The Art of Blogging

Blogs. You’ve probably heard that word quite often in the past couple of years. With over 600 million blogs all over the internet you’d be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of it. Some of you may wonder what exactly a blog is, and why is it so popular. Blogs are an integral part of organizations that varies from Rotaract clubs to startups and even to the famous companies that you grew up knowing.

Theory time! The word “blog” is a combination of the terms "web" and "log”. When blogs first emerged, they simply started as a web-based journals where users could keep a record of their day-to-day activities. Since then, they have developed into a vital source of news and information and a forum for both people and companies. In fact, some individuals even earn a living by blogging and working full-time, paid professionals. Just to provide insight, in Sri Lanka writers charge from around 6 to 10 rupees a word. Sounds like a pretty decent side hustle if you’re good with your words.

Writers utilize blogs to pinpoint important information and to provide essential insights on a specific topic. The topics can vary from sports to food to politics or even a combination of multiple topics.

Now let’s skip the theory for a bit and talk business. Writing an article is easy. You can simply copy and paste with a bit of paraphrasing here and there and publish a 600-word article. Well, if you think that’s a good idea, you’re going to be disappointed to hear what I have to say next. People do not want to read the same content all over again. Your article has to be original, unique, and certainly authentic in order for it to get noticed. I mean just imagine the competition. There are millions of blogs out there and you want your article to get noticed.

Here are three basic tips that will help you progress from a writer to an effective blogger.

1. Choose your topic wisely.

The topic is the first impression the reader gets. So, take your time when you are deciding the headline for the article. Do some research and see how your competitors have phrased their articles/ list down all your ideas or findings and produce a masterpiece. Be aware of the trending topics that are circulating to boost interest in your work.

2. Keep it simple

Unless you are 100% sure of who your audience is, keep your article as simple as possible. Try avoiding complex words and phrases. Your work should be enjoyed and understood by people regardless of their literacy background or language skills. This will help you generate more views towards your blog as well.

3. Engage with your audience.

This is one of the challenges most writers face. Engaging content! Getting the readers to enjoy and understand the article to its full content depends on how you have chosen to communicate the content to them. Use a few images occasionally to give the reader a visual idea of your content. Mention facts, quotes or sometimes even a little humor if required. (If you have come this far reading my blog, then that makes my work pretty engaging….)

Starting a blog can be challenging at first, but with more blogs you publish the confident you become. Writing is an underrated skill in today’s society. Even at the corporate level being good with your words can help you be more effective with written communication such as presentations, reports, etc. So, it’s about time you start small because like Margaret Atwood once said "A word after a word after a word is power."